Forsan trustees eyeing ECHS program

December 10, 2011

By

Steve Reagan

Forsan to consider Early College High School classification

FORSAN â€” This Early College High School idea seems to be catching on.
Four days after Big Spring Independent School District trustees discussed the possibility of establishing an Early College High School program, their counterparts in Forsan will do the same when they hold their monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Monday in the administration wing board room.
An ECHS program would allow students to take college credit courses as early as their freshman year in high school. Students in the program could conceivably graduate high school with either an associateâ€™s degree in academics or vocational certification in workforce training.
Several Forsan ISD officials accompanied their colleagues from Big Spring and Howard College on recent fact-finding trips to ECHS programs across the state, and came away impressed with the idea. While not as far along in the decision-making process as BSISD administrators, Forsan appears willing to follow suit with plans to adopt the program.
â€śItâ€™s in the very preliminary stages right now,â€ť Forsan Superintendent Randy Johnson said. â€śWeâ€™re trying to decide how to provide information to other groups, and our school board seemed the best place to start. Basically, weâ€™re trying to determine whether (an ECHS program) fits the needs of our program.â€ť
If Forsan decides to go the ECHS route, it will do so separately from Big Springâ€™s effort, Johnson noted.
â€śBut weâ€™re a long way from deciding,â€ť he added. â€śThere are a lot of â€¦ issues to be decided upon. This is just a starting point.â€ť
In other business Monday, trustees will consider:
â€˘ Casting votes for the Howard County Appraisal District Board of Directors.
â€˘ Policy updates.
â€˘ Personnel matters.
â€˘ Reports on enrollment, facilities and future agenda items.